Masseuse charged with inappropriately touching client in Brookfield

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 7:00 pm, Wednesday, December 19, 2007

In July, Brookfield police charged Kyong Ju, of Malverne, N.Y., with fourth-degree sexual assault after a woman told police Ju touched her private parts during a massage at the Candlewood Day Spa on Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield.

Ju no longer works at the spa.

He appeared in court Tuesday to apply for accelerated rehabilitation, a pretrial diversion program that, if successfully completed, could result in the charges against him being dismissed. A judge did not rule on the matter Tuesday.

Prosecutors are objecting to Ju's application, which a judge could rule on when Ju returns to court on Feb. 6.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit from the Brookfield Police Department, Ju, apparently known to his clients as "James," allegedly initiated a bizarre massage session in July, reportedly starting with a request for the woman to be completely naked.

She complied and laid under a sheet, according to court documents.

Ju noticed the woman had a runny nose and rubbed a lotion on her face, at which point she detected a "strong smelling fragrance under the bridge of her nose," according to the affidavit.

"During this time (the alleged victim) had the feeling of having had a few alcoholic drinks," the affidavit said.

Ju then touched the woman in an inappropriate sexual manner, according to police. The woman said "no" but Ju did not stop, police allege.

The woman told police "she was scared (and) uncomfortable because she was basically naked and James was appearing to her in an almost agitated state," the affidavit said.

Police said the woman reported the alleged incident the next day after conferring with her husband and a crisis center worker.

Ju denied all accusations to Brookfield police, telling officers he gave the woman a 90-minute massage without incident and received a $20 tip. The victim's husband contended that Ju apologized for his alleged actions when confronted at the spa shortly after the incident. The husband had gone to the spa to demand the spa return any paperwork related to his wife's visit, according to court documents.

Ju later entered a not guilty plea in Danbury Superior Court.

June Noh, the spa's general manager, said his industry has it tough, because they can't put a camera in every room due to privacy concerns. "Nothing has been proven," Noh said. "I'm sorry to be involved in this controversial issue."

James Diamond, Ju's attorney, said the accelerated rehabilitation program is a form of probation that allows the charges against the person to be dismissed as long as the person complies with all the conditions of probation.

Diamond declined to discuss the particulars of the case.

"I'm not going to comment on what his defense is," Diamond said.

While Ju is no longer working in Brookfield, Diamond said his client still has a Connecticut masseuse license.

However, Diamond declined to comment on whether Ju is working as a masseuse anywhere else.

It's possible that Ju could lose his license even if he is granted accelerated rehabilitation.